"Russia says the gas tap might get turned off to Europe in retaliation of economic sanctions"

"The US appears content to remain on a course of money printing for the foreseeable future"

"World DEBT is now about 30% higher than it was when the GFC hit"

Enjoy!

Commenter

Stefano Dimera

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 2:20PM

"I won't deny it, I'm a straight ridah"

Commenter

King

Location

of Kingsgate

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:37PM

"The U.S. and its European allies vowed to isolate Russia's Putin and punish his nation's economy, demanding he withdraw what they called an occupation force from Ukraine's Crimean region."

Commenter

King

Location

of Kingsgate

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:29PM

"James Hardie up past 40 times earnings"

LOL

Commenter

Cruising for a Bruising

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:24PM

Stocks fall, but no panic.

PANIC!

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:18PM

"ASX in panic 18 point fall"

Commenter

Irish Phil

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:41PM

Should be a bouyant night for stocks on Wall Street then Phil?

Commenter

Scottish Donald

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 2:04PM

"NYC teachers spend average $500 of own cash for kids' school supplies"

Commenter

Jeff

Location

Eagleby

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:13PM

I wonder if Williamson and Thompson will share a prison cell?

Unions have past their use by date.

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:58PM

...and the 2013/14 Oscar for best actor on a blog goes to....ALLAN!

Commenter

Ellen D.

Location

AllanWood

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:50PM

Who didn't sell their fmg at 6.20? Where are you bob?

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:29PM

Alan What would you do if your are NAB Loans manager sitting on loan approval for Gina Reinhart's $7.5B iron ore project ?

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:53PM

LOL

Commenter

Bob's your uncle

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:59PM

next question please.NAB a basket case.

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:17PM

Run for the hills.

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 2:08PM

Good piece on rent seeking Mr Gittens (now here's a job economists can do well and yes we're all liable to call for a bit of rent seeking) but let's not pussy foot around the mother of rent seeking in Australia, the FIRE sector that has total control of Canberra. Compared to them, the automotive manufacturing sector are paragons of efficiency.

Commenter

Catch 22

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:25PM

Norway's sovereign wealth fund decision to cut investments in coal and gold are quite different issues. One relates to the environmental damage of burning coal for electricity generation; the other relates to the risk to employees mining for gold in increasingly dangerous situations.

In regard to gold mining, like the sovereign fund I would not want to invest in a company that I knew was taking unnecessary risks in order to mine gold. Unfortunately, this generally goes with businesses that have become marginal, where increased risks seem to be taken to remain viable. Not much of an investment in any case, although there remain some producers that seem to be ethical.

Thermal coal (rather than coking coal) will be a declining business over the next couple of decades, although some big names in the business in Australia don't seem to have worked this out yet.

China is currently planning to hold its annual consumption to 4 billion tonnes. It has two options to do this: reduce the increase in imports or reduce the increase in local production. The option they choose will have a big influence on Australia.

Japan is also bringing back its nuclear facilities into production. This will cut their need for coal.

Renewable ways of electricity will grow over the next 20 years, albeit slowly. I doubt that we will ever need to build another coal-fired generator in Australia, with wind and enhanced geothermal the most likely to succeed.

Commenter

Graham Lovell

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:09PM

In a reality check for Norway and its massive Oil wealth...dont forget "Piper Alfa" and "Deepwater Horizon"...when it comes to taken udue risk to extract resources i'm sure Oil & Gas is on top of the pile.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:06PM

Because the ASX 200 is now back up to October 2006 levels I've decided to take another cruise with my HUGE dividend payments. As some of you may not be aware, cruise ships are the height of sophistication and a clear an unequivocal expression of one's superior financial position.

Commenter

Barry

Location

Frankston

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:07PM

As I alluded to Friday they are also an excellent way of getting one's gut cleared out by catching norovirus.

Can you imagine Mark speaking on a different topic, any topic? I certainly cannot. I have a very limited picture of this guy.I'm sorry but Mark really doesn't impress me, just another speculator going through life on the back of hard working Australian mortgagees...another pest.

Commenter

Max

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:50PM

Q. Which company in the latest reporting round has the longest time interval between announcing a dividend, and the payment date.A. EAL, results announced 19/2/14, 2.75 f/f dividend ex on 29/5/14 and payable 16/6/14. That's 118 days.The next longest is MFF at 101 days.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:55AM

Was lining up to buy some more BRU...but the bottom has not been reached yet,....1.35 seems reasonable,but trend is definately down,down.LEI gotta be one of the least stable and still trading CD another 2% gain evaporates...probably back on tomorrow.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:54AM

SBM +11%. I like it!

Even my fmg short is in the money and it's a looong way dowwwwwwm from here. LOL.

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:46AM

long long way up for your QAN long...sorry.up up and awaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...with TAA...your numpty way to flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Location

finding alfa75

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:19PM

Good work @ Allan, that would keep your 100% strike rate in tact, well done!

Commenter

Gordon Bleu

Location

Broadbeach

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:31PM

The Libs new wages model for all of you still lucky to have a job when the current round of "right-sizing" in the workplace is finished. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-green-army-will-be-paid-half-the-minimum-wage-20140301-33st7.htmlGood luck in paying the rent or your groceries or your electricity bill and if you suffer an injury doing hazardous work, well tough because a lot of the normal work-place protections won't apply. Just a little removed from slave labour.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:43AM

We need a new "job ETF" to trade in Australia pronto.

Commenter

Speculator

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:08PM

You are right on this one mitch, asking people to do a few hours work for money, as opposed to the current money for nothing approach is outragous. I guess you want chicks for free too.

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:11PM

Not even 6 months gone @ Mitch, I feel your pain, but no sympathy, sorry!

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:12PM

Agree regarding exemption from various workplace laws, but the title and subsequent wage values in the article are misleading (probably intentionally). It states minimum wage is $622.20, but that would be for a standard 38 hour work week. These guys will work for only up to 30 hours a week so $622.20*30/38=$491.21. Instead, they will get $493.70. What's wrong with that?

Commenter

Gareth

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:18PM

You mentioned Electricity Bill... still cleaning up my new coffee/keyboard combo......

Commenter

ALittleToTheRight

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:33PM

After they have paid for transport will there be anything left. Smells like a variation of the German industrial conscription model.

Commenter

Gringo

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:35PM

Excellent piece of work there @ ALiitleToTheRight, hillarious

Commenter

Aussie AL

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:44PM

Thats an incredibly scary policy.....it will be a revolution.Theres no way they can force young people to do this? And what about all the other job benefits like leave entitlements,superannuation etc,wtf,this is joke surely.Fudge the numbers again so looks like lower unemployment,seethru.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:49PM

@BSB yo have to be joking. This is a Liberal gov't. They don't believe in such things. Would be interesting to see if a female participant qualified under their gold-plated PPL scheme. I can imagine trucks turning up at the homes of eligible young people to cart them off for a weeks work in the green army. You would have to be green around the ears to even consider working under those arrangements

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:33PM

Australian networks wound up over losing viewers to US streaming TV......Too funny. You want to help shaft us with globalisation but now want legislation. Watch what Brandis does.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:41AM

Whatever Rupert tells him to do. That election campaign by News Ltd didn't come for free.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:08PM

Agreed mitch. Disgraceful.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:40PM

"North Korea on Monday launched two short-range missiles into the sea off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, South Korean authorities said."

Housing boom!

Commenter

Bud Abbott

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:36AM

I saw that...I think it was two Hyundais...

Commenter

Recall

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:10PM

They were after me!

Commenter

Godzilla

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:31PM

Kias actually. They don't yet have the technology to launch Hyundais.

Commenter

Olaf

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:05PM

Hyundais are south korean, but a nice little joke none the less

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:12PM

Isn't a war great it brings out all the prima donnas of Labor and Liberal. Short memories on all Australia's involvements since 1901.

Just watch the absence of mea culpas from all sides. The human condition strikes again.Oh yes and of course both sides have the answer but never any responsibility taken.

Always reminds me of someone who said after the second world war.

"What would YOU have done if somebody was taken away from your street with no explanation?"

Commenter

Harry Rogers

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:35AM

Thanks to the anti-terrorism legislation that is entirely possible right now. So what would YOU do. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human-rights-guide-australias-counter-terrorism-laws Given the source of that page I wonder how long it will stay up.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:19PM

@Aussie Al...Thanks mate...Think it's worth a shot but don't like the ASX..etf...OOO. Any ideas? There's no liquidity and I always pay too much or get too little when I sell... I think the oil shares are way over priced...Always have been.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:35AM

The Shanghai is not perturbed by what's going on, up 0.9%. I like it!

Commenter

Thomas Doubtfire

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:33AM

New Home Sales pick up in January, no need for all the doom and gloom boys!

Enjoy!

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:19AM

"The HSBC China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, a gauge of nationwide manufacturing activity, fell to a final reading of 48.5 in February from 49.5 in January."

Oh dear.

Commenter

Gordon Akman

Location

Broadbeach

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:15AM

Job Adverts up strongly in Feb, Abbott and Hockey starting to get results already, contracts to come for Infrastructure Projects. Starting to look good!A

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:14AM

What infrastructure projects.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:36PM

Anyone know of any good boat magazines?

Commenter

King

Location

of Kingsgate

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:13AM

I take it you either:1. doing really well2. your stocks are going higher3. want a boat to bring more people in...

Commenter

Accountant

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:24AM

Sure...

makeyourownmodelboatwithpaddlepopsticks...com

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:26AM

try this for a good read...

www.fantasyhouseboats.com.au

Commenter

Half Back Flanker

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:38AM

I too will join you!

Commenter

Prince

Location

Kingsgate

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:49AM

TurnBackDinghys is a great read, look to be performing for their purpose

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:26PM

"Unprovoked aggression should have no place in our world" says Tony Abbott in QT today in response to a question about events in Ukraine. So does that mean that he opposed his own govt's involvement in the illegal invasion of Iraq in 1993. That led to the deaths and injury of several Australians, the deaths of about a hundred thousand Iraqis and the displacement of many more as the ensuing civil war destroyed their country. Asylum seekers from Iraq have figured prominently on those on boats seeking to come here, the inevitable blow-back. How times change when its someone else doing the aggression. It's just as well George isn't still White House because we could very well find Australian troops being volunteered to fight in someone else's war as seems to be the hallmark of Liberal govt's.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:10AM

The answer to your long winded question is clearly no.

Commenter

Grinch

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:21AM

I'd say Labor is almost more keen on warmongering than the Liberals. Kevin Rudd was one of the first bloodthirsty Western leaders to call for war in Libya, which of course ended with Gaddafi brutally murdered by an angry mob, al-Qaida rebels controlling the east and south of the country and armed gangs controlling the western parts.

All Western leaders - whether right-liberals or left-liberals - are basically bloodthirsty interventionists. Only a genuinely conservative nationalist government can put an end to the killing. The Tea Party was the only reason that the warlord Obama didn't go into Syria.

Commenter

Dr No

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:30AM

Dr No thanks for confirming that you are a member of the Tea Party admiration society. Your earlier anti-Obama posts today gave a clue but now you have confirmed it. You should be feeling happy now that we have our very own version of the Tea Party in power. Enjoy it while it lasts, just 2 1/2 years to go.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:01PM

I'm not necessarily in favour of all Tea Party ideas, but as a foreign policy realist I'm well aware of the fact that the Tea Party - and the fear of further Tea Party success in the polls - was the only thing holding the Republican/Democrat constellation from going to war in Syria, which they did with such disastrous results in Iraq and Libya. It's the liberal world view, which is held by both the centre-right and the centre-left, which has caused Western warmongering in the last 20 years. The current government in Australia is not conservative, it's mostly right-liberal.

Stu -- the 2010 election in the Ukraine was determined to be fairly run by the electoral commission AND intermational observers. Which mean a democratically elected president (Yanukovych) was just overthrown by a mob of activists who voted for the losing side in the election. The West should not be so quick to jump on the side of 'democratic self-determination' here .... they may not like what they end up with.

Commenter

jezza

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:49AM

Chinese equities bounce to 1992 levels!

Hurrah!

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:32AM

Hurrah....chicken feet tonight.

Commenter

Chef

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:00PM

asx200 5 and 10 pt vertical jumps are really killing me.seems to happen every day now.how does an index move like that.must be big buys in some major stocks.

Commenter

J.

Location

Syd.

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:30AM

i cannot believe the bas..d is rising again.

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:48AM

12.41 Old King Coal is here to stay. Fatih Birol agrees with me even if you don't @ Mitch.

He said about 70 per cent of new power plants under order from utilities in China, India and south-east Asia were coal-fired, many of them “sub-critical” – or not of the most efficient modern design. Sub-critical power stations use up to 15 per cent more coal than the most modern ones, locking in higher carbon dioxide emissions.

Recoverable fossil fuel will be used until it's all gone. Sorry but that's human nature. We're destroying the place and nothing will stop it until, well, we've destroyed the place.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:17AM

Primates, as an animal who evolved on this planet during last 4.5B years are intimately related to every living and non living thing on the rock.I ear we will never learn, that we are too primitive to learn that without healthy natural economy (joke) that we cannot survive, the world as a whole probably will be we, as 99.9% of all other species will become extinct.

Commenter

J.

Location

Syd.

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:01AM

The bright future for coal is based on the assumption that the absolute amount of power produced from renewables will stagnate from next year on - no reason given. In that aspect, it sounds more like an Alan Joyce prediction. The interview is debunked here http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/will-iea-and-governments-be-the-last-to-discover-solar-pv-revolution-80280

Commenter

colin

Location

melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:07AM

@1246 commentSome good news about the data from current company reporting.Whats with all the bad sentiment things are great and the last FY earnings was a bumper proving it so not need to fear,we are doing ok.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:03AM

Yes, things are going so well that thousands of people are losing their jobs and the anticipated rate of growth in the share market for the coming year is half what it was last year.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:30AM

Per capita GDP is going backwards.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:56AM

@Mitch, The reason the anticipated rate of growth last year was high was because the market had gone nowhere for three years and everyone was looking forward to some catch up after better outlooks for Europe/USA. and a change of govt. in Australia. Now we are getting back to reality and growth outlooks are more closely linked to fundamentals.

Commenter

Chumlee

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:06AM

Just wish we had had a different goverment/s the last 2 terms. Would have made a hell of a difference, with so many jobs being lost over that period. The $$$ wasted over the 2008-2013 years could have funded a small country, and the fallout still isn't over. At least this budget starts us on the road to recovery.

Commenter

ALittleToTheRight

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:12AM

@ALittleToTheRight "road to recovery"....

Don't think so. It's not just Labor that suck. Our problems are not from two terms of incompetence. Our problems are from30 years of purposeful deceit.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:19AM

Silver and gold are heading up well today...Anyone know what today's oil price is doing? WTIC's oil chart looks like it's about to shoot upwards.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:01AM

Crude up 1.12% to $103.74 at 1.20PM, was $104.65 at 11.23AM

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:21AM

@Aussie Al...Thanks mate...Think it's worth a shot but don't like the ASX..etf...OOO. Any ideas? There's no liquidity and I always pay too much or get too little when I sell... I think the oil shares are way over priced...Always have been.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:33AM

Does anyone really believe there will be an escalation in the Ukraine?

I am thinking no, but the Ruskis are so unpredictable

Commenter

Half Back Flanker

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:58AM

"Job ads show strong growth in February"

Ha, not in my world.I ve been looking for new contract work for 9 months since my last contract.

The list of available jobs in my area of expertise has dropped substantially on Seek and the day rate $ has dropped around 30% in the last few months.

Me thinks what jobs are available are going to the lowest bidders (imported labour)

Commenter

catnip

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:58AM

Having worked in the recruitment industry the number of job ads and the number of jobs are two different things. Recruitment agencies put job ads up on job boards to fish for candidates. Sometimes there is an actual job behind a recruitment agency's job ad but often it's just part of the business development process of the agency.

The job market behaves in a similar way to the property market and the stock market. That is, the Australian job market is made up of many different geographical locations within Australia and many different sectors and sub sectors. These different sectors often perform quite differently at any given time as some industries are contracting and new industries may be expanding.

What is clear though is Australia's relative productivity has been falling significantly in recent years. There are now many poorly educated Australians who draw on themselves and think binge drinking and drug taking is really clever. No prizes for guessing who is going to win in the global fight for high paying professional jobs between these Australians and their peers in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai etc.

Commenter

Gordon Akman

Location

Broadbeach

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:28AM

I bet Russia is driving all Game theorists to insanity today...

Commenter

Beautiful Mind

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:55AM

Nothing surprising about the Carbon Tax having a huge impact on the Airlines bottom line.

The solution is there but Electricity Bill hasn't switched on just as yet!

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:54AM

you do realise that the carbon tax was passed onto the travelling public dont you?

Who were compensated for it, in many cases more than adequately. Plus businesses that received no compensation for the carbon tax can claim the extra cost as a tax deduction and GST refund. If the carbon tax is such an issue for the airlines the gov't could consider exempting them from it on a universal basis - equal treatment for all. But the airlines would just find something else to squeal about.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:19AM

On the subject of coal-fired power stations in Asia, here's what a more enlightened country is doing. If those haggis-eating Scots can do this why can't beef-eating Australia. Instead we have a "climate-change is crap" gov't and one intent on reducing the RET. http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/scottish-power-station-emissions-drop/story-e6frfkui-1226842874642 "As well as its crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Scotland's renewables industry also employs more than 11,000 people and is producing record levels of electricity output - contributing to economic growth while keeping the lights on across the UK. Director Lang Banks said: "These figures clearly show that renewable energy is making a massive contribution to reducing Scotland's climate change emissions. This contribution will only continue to grow as we move ever closer to securing all of our electricity from pollution-free sources." I'll bet the people in Morwell wished they had a renewables plant in their town and not a coal-fired one and its coal-mine.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:50AM

Speaking for people you dont know and have not met? wow talk about putting words in someones mouth.Given nearly everyone in Morwell is related to at least someone who has/does work in the mining/coal power industry down there, I would suspect they would have just prefered correct mine management, of not removing the sprinkler system over that unused part of the mine, and/or capping the unused section with clay as per best practice.

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:16AM

Renewable energy systems don't need sprinkler systems or clay capping and if they catch fire are much easier to put out. If Scotland can make jobs available in its renewable energy sector then so can Australia but in a few months we will be lucky if we still have one.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:45AM

Whats the cost comparison of per kilowatt hour?

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:37AM

Another gem I've gotten back into is Collins Foods (CKF) after a decent pullback (Due to Sizzler franchise).

They own KFC stores around Australia and a few other franchises.

5.41% div (up to 7.7% with franking) but is around July or so. Will increase with the new acquisition and cost cutting in those new stores

This pullback to $1.80 allows you to get back in after reaching $2.10+ a couple of weeks ago.

Even in a downturn, these businesses do well. Good div + capital growth stock.

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:49AM

mmm, not too bad. ROE low but rising.they really should not be paying out a dividend though...silly for a young company.Is it just KFC / Sizzler ? do they intend to get into other franchises? maccas..nandos?thanks.

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:47AM

They also bought a 50% stake in "Snag Stand" (which I've never heard of) but is doing really well. Their Sizzler stores aren't performing like they used to and that is part of the reason we can get back in at a cheaper price.

They haven't mentioned acquiring other popular franchises yet, so I think they'll continue to acquire only KFC stores and then apply their cost cutting and run things the way they do in their current stores.

They currently own 169 KFC stores in QLD/NSW/NT/WA so there is a lot of room for them to keep growing.

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 11:22AM

"Australian manufacturing activity has slowed for the fourth straight month, although the pace of decline eased slightly, as the strength of the Australian dollar, high energy costs and low productivity growth weighed on the sector."

Commenter

Doggie dog days

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:34AM

"Australian consumers had to shell out more for fruits and vegetables in February as inflation rose again in 'worrying signs of further price acceleration'"

What happens to payments on mega mug mortgages when interest rates rise?

Commenter

Joe Gans

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:23AM

And bosses are in no mood to hand out pay rises.

Commenter

Oracle

Location

Oberon

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:07AM

when can one expect the interest rate to rise again ? tmr ?

Commenter

got brain

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:23AM

RB has to choose to either help low income/pensioners/retirees and put rates up to curb inflation or leave rates where they are (or drop them) to prop up their mates in the banking/finance sector and their mortgage mug punters.

No prizes for guessing which way they will go

Commenter

hike

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:52AM

Is this the end of the G8? The G7 leaders have just put out a statement condemning Russia's move

G8 is a past by use date. Any international association without presence of China and India is meaning less. Current lists reads like a roll call of yesterdays imperialists, with Canada somehow finding a place.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:15AM

A G7 statement will weight far heavier than Obama's "Red Line"-statement, which was laughed at across the world. That this clown has got the guts to talk about red lines again after his Syria Red Line was so ridiculed! I think the US will be the first superpower in the world to be laughed off the world stage.

Commenter

Dr No

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:00AM

The link between NYSE Margin Debt and the S&P 500 (11:50 am post) is clear.

Part of this connection can be attributed to simple a co-linear relationship: margin lending and share prices both go up when confidence in the market increases. It is not necessarily linked to the funds available (eg from QE), but rather to market expectations.

On the other hand, more margin lending means that the market is more fragile. If something goes wrong then the higher level of margin lending will make the market fall further as borrowers rush to sell to reduce their losses and to cover their loans.

There may be lots more upside in the market, and in the long term there probably is, but rather than borrowing to invest it seems more prudent to put money aside to be able invest if and when the market falls by 20% and still keep some in hand in case it falls by a further 20%.

At least that is the lesson I took away from 2007-2009.

Commenter

Graham Lovell

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:11AM

Nice first post Graham, I tend to agree with you. Plenty left in this market, but time out required in the current to short term.

Commenter

Half Back Flanker

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:42AM

Sound insight,and with the larger amount of "margin" money in the market it is a kind of false equity share price inflation.All good as long as the market keeps rising.But any corrections do get overrun,then stocks oversold to cover.If you are savvy enough to be sideline and in cash when the rug gets pulled its a great time to jump in and pick up stocks cheaper.But as always there are winners and losers,so your bargain is another punters loss,which is only amplified by the margin call and payback borrowed money to cover if available.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:54AM

"the recent records achieved by the S&P 500 have been underpinned by borrowed money"

Housing boom!

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:58AM

drop you good thing!

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:53AM

Why would you want that if you have just bought the banks again? You are confusing!

Commenter

which bank?

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:03AM

Anyone read Warren's letter on the weekend? He does not care about Ukraine!

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:51AM

I doubt Ukraine cares about Warren....

Commenter

Realist

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:02AM

mr buffett gets very greedy when twits get fearful...its too easy

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:13AM

The goldies are kicking butt today, and more to come yet when China opens. You have missed the cream but the little bits to come will be tasty enough, enjoy!

Commenter

Gold Balls

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:48AM

Very risky trading today, think I will sit on the fence and see what unfolds.

"Imagine watching a film that tells the truth about the terrible injustices committed over 225 years against your people, a film that reveals how Europeans, and the governments that have run our country, have raped, killed and stolen from your people for their own benefit."

And what are we going to do for mineral resources once all the stolen resources are flogged off to China?

Where is the iron ore going to come from for the next 1,000 years?

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:33AM

Mars?

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:47AM

Don't fret about iron ore. It's one of the most abundant elements on the planet. Deposits that are uneconomic to mine now will become economically viable as the cheap iron-ore is used up.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:57AM

Why don't they make a movie about how the Arabs came charging out of the Arabian Peninsula and conquered the whole of North Africa (which was settled by Europeans and Berbers) to the point where North Africa is now thought of as part of the Arab World. Why don't they make a movie about how Libyan and Algerian gas and oil (that was stolen from Europeans and Berbers) is being sold off and how injustices were committed. Allan - you could make those sorts of movies about any part of the world - but only Europeans are ethno-masochist enough to make them.

Commenter

Dr No

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:00AM

@Allan...We don't live for 1000 years and that's all we care about. Use it, sell it, eat it, consume it, ruin it now for our purposes....It's very clear we do not care about the future. The very first generation to not care about what we are leaving our kids and their kids.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:03AM

Allan...I agree with all the above except the point..."Europeans"...needs to be changed to "British"...a rather big difference.

Commenter

Mack

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:05AM

You need to add to your list the injustices meted out by the Normans.

Commenter

Billy

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:09AM

I thought when a bushland area in Sydney's south was given back to the local Aboriginals I thought "great...that'll stop it being developed"....wrong...They chopped it up and flogged it off.

@mitch...abundant means it'll be sourced elsewhere and Australia will get nothing for it. The bigger question is where will Australia get the money from to live the way we've all become very used to?

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:13AM

Speaking of black oppression...Don't bother watching "12 years a slave"...worst movie ever. Waiting, waiting, waiting for something to happen and then it was over Even worse than that other well acclaimed "black swan".

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:54AM

@JohnBB, I quite like 12 years a slave. You are correct its not an action film, but makes you stop and think a little

Commenter

Wwwish Lion

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 12:56PM

@Yeah it did make me think...Humans can be cruel.....I'm just being dramatic...The director didn't make us hate or love anyone enough....It's because I watched it with mates who kept commenting about the long pauses looking at the camera....and what was he doing hanging for ten minutes? Yep, a thoughtful film, I liked it, didn't love it.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 1:34PM

AMP : Peter Mason retiring raises the question of why the whole board took so long to ask him to go.

Same with QAN . Are boards really contributing to companies or is it just and overbearing Chairman who decides all. If this is so why do we have such large boards are they just mates appointments .QAN board Leigh Clifford (exRio) Maxine Brenner (InvestecBank),Patricia Cros (Mac Bank),Richard Goodsmanson (Rio) , Jacqueline Hey (ex Ericcson),Garry Hounsell (ex Ernst and Young),William Meaney (ex Swiss Airlines), Paul Rayner (ex BritTobac),Barb Ward (ex CBA).

Make up your own mind.

Commenter

Harry Rogers

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:29AM

We need more shareholder activism.The big boys clubs is quite frankly disgusting.Look at RIO, what a massive shareholder wealth destruction and the chairman Jan Du Plessis is still hanging on.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:41AM

Putin has Edward Snowden and heaps of NSA transcripts. Wonder KGB has analysed key transcripts and worked USA's capabilities.

Cold war is back in business, only now we have 3 opposing sides, a weak USA, China and Russia.

Good for Oil and uranium price.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:28AM

why do you think Ru has been building thousands of the worlds best tanks, capable of 100km/h?Sure they export many but this is all abt a war on the ground that only Ru can winScary, really scary

Commenter

stu

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:05AM

When MYEFO came out I looked at the revenue projections for 13/14 and later years and they looked weak. Based on those numbers I said that if tax collections were continuing to decline then company profits, from which some of those taxes are collected, could also be weak and that did not make for a good reporting season. I have been pleasantly surprised by the significant uplift in the AllOrds over the reporting season, due to better than expected results and increased dividends, and that must mean that gov't corporate tax collections must be running well ahead of PEFO & MYEFO estimates by up to $2bn. However the apparent increase in expected company taxes could be offset to a lesser extent by the daily ever-growing numbers losing their jobs and the decline in PAYG taxes from those people and the increase in benefit payments. So I wonder how much of the cuts to come in Joe's Budget will be cuts for cutting's sake and how much will be justified by the revenue position. Hard cuts will save the gov't money but have the perverse effect of diminishing tax collections by more than the amount of the cuts in 14/15 and the out years with less money washing around the economy to generate tax revenue on each cycle. I hope the Treasury modellers alert Joe to that but then Joe doesn't trust Treasury.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:15AM

No intelligent person would trust them after considering their woeful track record .

Commenter

Chumlee

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:46AM

"Joe doesn't trust Treasury".Well @ Mitch I wouldn't trust officials that where political appointments either. The days of the a-political Public Servant is a distant memory.

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:54AM

"rates are only going one way - thats up." every economists in australia. as usual wrong. rates are still going down with all the big four quietly chipping away.

Commenter

smilingjack

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:14AM

And my gut-feeling, looking at the economic indicators of rising unemployment and slowing growth and a gov't intent on bringing in a contractionary Budget, when we should still be in stimulus mode, tells me that the next interest rate move will be down, and the one after that, and the one after that. Those rates will make my 5-year Term Deposit with Rabo at 7% look very attractive.

Commenter

mch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:56AM

The last hurrah trying to snag a few more mugs for their books before rates start jacking up.

Commenter

Oracle

Location

Oberon

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:11AM

Why is Woolworth down? Am I missing something?

Commenter

Panhandler

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:12AM

Hugely overbought, great opportunity to buy on the dip coming up, have cash at the ready to pounce, I like it!

OSH bouncing up,seems more sensitive to global plays than a large shuffle internally announced last week.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:08AM

Things on our market were getting out of whack for a while there, with the last 3 Mondays in a row all being up days. Today puts things back to normal, thanks to Ukraine & the ex-div factor. Gut feeling is that the rest of the week will be down as well. Lots more ex-divs to come this week & Ukraine is going to fester for a while yet.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:04AM

I agree @ Mitch

Commenter

Aussie Al

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:42AM

Tricky situation Ukraine appears to be. I'm no expert, but seems likely that Russia will move very quickly like they did with Georgia. News regarding the events will be vague and foggy owing to the tempo of Russian manoeuvre and journalists trying to keep up with developments. Likely further key personnel will change coats as Russia will have prepared sufficiently for this event, allowing swift domination of key areas. The West will beat their chests and jump up and down, but secretly be relieved when its over in a few days, the Crimean will be in Russian hands and they can 'make a stand' by not attending the G8 in Sochi. Putin will use the event to say 'Hey, how about those winter games?', We will then forget about it as both east and west figure it's in their best interest to not talk about it and draw media attention to it. The end.

Commenter

JC

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:01AM

In the current divd season,everyday there seems to be more and more $$ landing in the etrade account,gotta love this time of year.I think the yields have been fatastic for a rather bumpy market ride.

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:56AM

Yes, no one complains about juicy divs (and franking). But, like all things it is a trade-off. The companies we invest in feel the heat to pay more dividends, and it comes at the cost of growth opportunities....short term for long term.

R.

Commenter

Roadsta

Location

Brisneyland

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:23AM

SIV back in @ 5.49avg down on MGX @ 0.835 waiting for a u turn

Commenter

BearShapedBull

Location

MugPunters Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:51AM

I'm trying very hard to resist MGX but I do like the company. The longer I resist the lower the price goes. Iron ore price collapse is my major concern. If the price goes below 80c I wont be able to resist any further.

Commenter

Yin or yang

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:10AM

Ukraine crisis. It's a seriously bad thing for the people of the Ukraine. Deaf ears perhaps but can people show a little respect before they get publicly excited about what they think will be personal favorable financial outcomes?

Commenter

Yin or yang

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:49AM

@ "has the housing bubble burst yet?"

Hi Hugo.

Don't get me wrong I have done very well with properties over an 18 year period, but surely buying an 'investment' property now makes zero sense.

The numbers:Borrow $500k (which will get you very little in inner city Melbourne) to get a return after agents' fees and associated outgoings of 3.5% (and let's be honest 3.5% is being VERY GENEROUS). So you get a rental return of $17500 pa and let's say at 5% your interest repayments your interest bill is $25K.So you can 'negatively gear' $7500.You sit on the 37% tax bracket so you 'save' on tax a grand total of $2812. But in order to make this 'saving, you have put a noose around your neck to the onerous level of half a million dollars debt and you have to pray like hell that you continue to get enough capital gains to make the entire stressful 'investment' worthwhile.

Let's be honest buying at todays' prices for 'investment' purposes is for mugs.

Commenter

Allanah

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:43AM

This may be true right now, but that 500k figure was probably 300k in say about 2003-2005. Since then rents way up, house prices way up. (The general public don't factor in inflation.. lol it's true).

After the markets went to crap in 2003, everyone saying the same thing, no growth etc. Yet it keeps going up.

When prices are at 750k, 500k would probably seem like a "bargain" in a few years.

My view is that most people are scared of the sharemarket, know nothing about it and only know to buy houses. Doesn't matter if it's a 100k unit or 500k house. They will keep adding until things go bad. That could be 5-10 years away. Nobody knows.

Everyone thinks they can do the same as they do on TV (The Block, Renovators, etc). And history from the 1970s shows it works.

p.s I own properties and it is in my interest for them to go up, but prefer shares nowadays.

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:13AM

I agree with your premise, but using your example, the net 'cost' is ~$5k, so you need a capital gain of about 1% to break even.

Commenter

Life Is Good

Location

The Real World

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:16AM

I loved the story in domain over the weekend of some c grade nobody ( as usual ) who paid a couple of mill for a house several years back and has now just on sold it with " a lot of interest". another happy property story from domain where when you actually factor in the figures ( assuming no mortgage ) they came out behind. then factor in a mortgage and they are waayyyyyyy behind.

Commenter

smilingjack

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:18AM

I find it funny to hear people say that "I bought my place for $700k, sold it for $800k and made $100k profit".

Many factors have to be included to see the real cost of property ownership over time.

Commenter

catnip

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 9:51AM

Gold up early, don't be surprised to see it zooooom when Asian Markets open

Commenter

Gold Balls

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:31AM

China will needs a lot of our iron ore and coal in the future, a war will be even more icing on the cake, don't fight it!

Commenter

Bashar

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:29AM

Is that why our iron-ore producers BHP, RIO & FMG are all well down today instead of up, as your theory would suggest. As for coal, doesn't China have pollution enough. The less iron-ore China buys, the less coal they need to smelt it.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:57AM

Keep up with the news @ Mitch, it won't happen if you continue to watch channel 24 lol

Commenter

Bashar

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:12AM

Must be the China manufacturing PMI figure released 2 days ago.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:16AM

Need to think long term @ Mitch, Bashar is correct!

Commenter

Strategic Planner

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:34AM

oh dear, you wouldn't want to be long anything today.down down down she goescha ching

Commenter

Genghis

Location

Lounge

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:26AM

Always remember the old adage for short term trading, ''never hold over the weekend, there may be a war"

Commenter

Half Back Flanker

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:51AM

Except the gold miners... theyre having a ripper

Commenter

Danj303

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:55AM

Global nuclear war.

Housing boom!

Commenter

Allan

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:26AM

LOL

Commenter

Fan

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:47AM

Fly my (nuclear) beauties...fly!

Commenter

Horseman

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:49AM

Well I grant you that would probably see house prices drop a bit............

Commenter

Life Is Good

Location

The Real World

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:53AM

Markets always looking for any bit of "bad" news to go down. Russia gives them what they want.

Commenter

Oracle

Location

Oberon

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:26AM

sad thing is we wait weeks for it to creep up, then Poof!! its all gone again

Commenter

stu

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:05AM

Cautious day in store for us today, no need to panic, yet, but have your finger at the ready!

Commenter

Bashar

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:22AM

This is a day when fortunate souls can win financially. Alas, I suspect this will come at the expense of many Ukrainians. Let's hope this forum shows respect for those poor souls over the next few days.

Commenter

Panhandler

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:07AM

John Singleton in the paper today saying he is interested in Prime Media (PRT)... Takeover soon ;)

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:14AM

I haven't seen the report but why would a serious buyer telegraph their intention.

Commenter

Yin or yang

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:25AM

Going ex-div tomorrow too. Get paid almost 8% (up to 11.4% with franking) in the meantime to wait! GIFT!!

Commenter

GS

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:27AM

Let's hope. I jumped in and bought on the big dip last week. Thanks for the lead. Not worth buying before the dip but was worth a punt afterwards.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:32AM

PRT, goes ex tomorrow with a 4c dividend? fully franked, seems a good time to jump in!

Commenter

JayCK

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:36AM

@ Yin or yang... not sure maybe he is getting some of the 30% Ramsay sold. We don't know who bought that 30% yet and he may be in it already. Here is the article....

In. B 4500 @ 0.94.. thanks for sharing the article. Get in there Singo!

Commenter

JayCK

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:25AM

the bears needed a helping hand from nutty Putin and Co..he he

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:13AM

Allan's on his/her way to Russia as we speak.

Commenter

shorter stalker

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:30AM

I would not get too carried away with the silly little he he's. This could get ugly!

Commenter

Schools Out!

Location

Prahran

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:35AM

What garbage. If there were serious foreign buyers wanting to buy Qantas, it would have happened long ago. How is Qantas different to letting 85% of everything else to be sold? The kangaroo on the tail. Admit it, that's what it is. The management of Australia's economy over the past 30 years could not be more ridiculous. Every Nowegian is worth 180k (gov fund). Australians, minus 27k (government debt) and the highest personal debt in the world, minus hundreds of BILLIONS of infrastructure dollars borrowed from the future that HASN'T happened (if we couldn't do it in the biggest boom in history, uhmmmm, when will we do it?)....AND....we don't have any assets left...OH...except Qantas, and we all know it's not worth anything.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:11AM

ACR well up. Perhaps Putin is stocking up on testosterone patches.

Commenter

mitch of ACT

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:10AM

Actually I think it's Mr Abbott stocking up on the patches...just before meeting the Chinese (which he greatly fears).

Commenter

Angel

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:50AM

Gold has broken through A$ 1500 level!

Will be interesting to watch spot gold price action during the next 24 hours.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:09AM

I almost sold gold and silver the other day and balked. The AUD is way over bought IMO and I was going to buy the USD but thought for now I'll hang onto gold and hopefully get the dual benefit of rising gold and falling dollar. We'll see what happens.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:23AM

IT is the first time in ages that I have seen gold go up so strongly at the Aussie market's open, expecting it too rocket when Asia opens!

Commenter

Gold Balls

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:44AM

Macquarie's speed camera investment must be a shocker. How can anyone speed in Sydney? Sydney traffic's a national embarrassment. Newtown cafe the other day. Lady walks in from Melbourne says "I love Sydney...but the traffffffffffic"......Ever been to Melbourne? That's a well run city; they had Jeff Kennett...... Sydney? Resign O'Farrell, and Carr, give back your pension....and...they bring in lock out laws and not one of the clowns in government thought there might be a need for more transport on Mardi Gras night? Too funny...Stop your whinging liquor industry. You had had all the tools to stop this happening....This entire country is run on greed, selfishness and empire building, and will go bankrupt because of it.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:08AM

I live in Melburne and it takes me 30 minutes at any time of day to get from MSAC in Albert Park (5 kms south) to Carlton (2kms north).

Suburban Melb is great but then we don't have a whopping big harbour stuck in the middle!!

Sydney would be great ..... if it wasn't for the Sydneysiders........:-)

Commenter

Life Is Good

Location

The Real World

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:34AM

@Life Is Good...That same trip could take you FROM 30 min to anything. So, if you have a timetable you have to allow for anything. It's BS....They've known there's a harbour for a long time. Deal with it...."Sydney would be great ..... if it wasn't for the Sydneysiders........:-)"....We'll put up with anything. Just keep packing us in and we'll still vote for you. Carr declared Sydney full decades ago....about ten million more people are in Australia now, most? in Sydney. ENOUGH. Fix it.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:51AM

I've always lived in Melbourne and our traffic stinks too.

Sydney may have a harbour, but Melbourne made the brilliant *detect the sarcasm* decision to put trams down the middle of suburban 2 lane roads (with cars parking on the left). Absolute nightmare!

Not to mention at least in Sydney you can get from the airport to downtown in a very reasonable time. Far quicker than in Melbourne. The taxi drivers are on the whole generally friendlier for some reason too.......

Sydney has far too many people for the infrastructure. Melbourne traffic is consistently good. In Sydney, I can go one way and it takes 20 minutes to do 4km and then an hour and a half back...That is ridiculous. I'd walk if my circumstances allowed that.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:45AM

Sounds like everyone is in heated agreement then. Both places suck.

Commenter

Middle East or Deep South?

Location

Elsewhere

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:00AM

cycle ?

Commenter

got brain

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 10:20AM

Hopefully they didn't find Balaklava, Australia! Though modern Balaklava is a suburb of Sevastopol. Very pretty. The Crimean population identifies as approximately 58% Russian, 20% Ukrainian, 12% Crimean Tatar and then various smaller groups.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Brisvegas

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:00AM

Lots respect PascoeBut cannot see why he would think Ua is not worth fighting forI wonder have you been there?Ua could, in the future feed EuropeThe Scots Eng and Chinese are leasing vast tracts of the worlds richest soils to farm onI am darned worried Krym, is the thin edge, remember Cz and the advance of USSR, very little has changed, Putin wants it all back, all of it

Commenter

stu

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 6:54AM

It is Gas war, Russian pipeline feeding Europe runs through Ukraine. The British wants to control it along with Germany and France.Russia does not want American Naval fleet docking in Crimea.

It is going to get nasty. Don;t be surprised it Iran and Syria now push through their agenda when all are distracted by Ukraine. China must be chuckling.

Commenter

Ronn

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:02AM

I actually think he got that article completely wrong. Far more scope for conflict spreading as a result of Ukraine, this is nothing like Georgia or some other minor country. Ukraine is a massive within Europe, has been the scene of a people struggling between old Russian ties and desired EU/NATO relationships and is in an extremely strategic location on the Black sea. Both US and Russian leaders have backed themselves into a corner now. Putin won't back down cos he's Russian and doesn't have to, Obama can't after looking soft on Libya, plus this is in Europe now and so a bit more touchy. Game on

Commenter

Realist

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:09AM

@stu...I agree with your comment. As for M Pascoe, he's as innocent and ignorant as many others. I doubt he's been there, I doubt he's been anywhere...

Commenter

Mack

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:10AM

Economists are barbarians. What would they know?

Commenter

Catch 22

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:15AM

Re: ukraine:

People need to remember that this is not just a people clamouring for Euro membership as had been played out in western media. The Eastern half of the country, which happened to democratically elect Yanukovych, wants closer ties to Russia. That is where the arable land and mining is. The western half who didn't vote for Yanukovych, just overthrew him. Ukraine will split down the middle with Russia taking 'the good parts' and Europe left to bail out the rest.

Commenter

jezza

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:22AM

@jezza...quite right indeed. Whatever happens it must be Ukraine's decision, the people's decision...not anyone else.

Commenter

Mack

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:39AM

RoneThe pipe wiill always be controlled at the high pressure end, all Poohtin does is back off the pressure, Brits do not want to control itThe Germans best crank up reactors again, darn fool thing to decomm them anywaysLooking at it from a selfish point of view , I,m down 13 k todayBut we could see it coming, just turned our eyes away

Commenter

stu

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:44AM

Ru has absolutely nothing to loseSanctions? so that will onlyhurt the worlds exporters, ok the rich in Ru will not be able to buy Western goods, but Putin does not care about Russians, after Ua there is Hu, Hu is only a semblance of a democracy now, Hu, then Pl? he must be stopped now, Someone said Ua had a democratic election, what nonsense, it was rigged

Commenter

stu

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:53AM

Don't mess with the Russians

Commenter

Fred

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 6:51AM

Da...don't!

Commenter

Mack

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:12AM

Obama certainly won't be messing with anybody. Obama is so scared of Putin that he refuses to even meet up with him. Obama stayed out of APEC meeting cuz Putin would show up, he stayed out of Sochi, he won't go to G8 meeting. I'm loving it, the US has a fake president and Putin is of course taking advantage of it. Why wouldn't he?

Commenter

Dr No

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:28AM

AMP chairman Peter Mason will retire.

Good riddance. Peter Mason presided over value destruction both in AMP and David Jones. Wonder how he was hanging on to this position for so long.

Commenter

RONN

Location

sYDNEY

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 6:46AM

POP yet?

Commenter

the rich landlord

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 6:39AM

has the housing bubble burst yet ?

Commenter

Hugo

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 6:34AM

I think the bubble will burst when iron ore goes below $80/tonne. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later so that our non-mining sector can start to recover. We need a recession right now before everything is lost.

Commenter

Dr No

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:11AM

Yes, Alan goes on incessantly about his housing boom, and yes it is tedious,but you've become just as bad. Do you need to lower yourself to his level?

Commenter

Stillbored

Location

yawnville

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:15AM

never stop hugo...i love it.

Commenter

no banks .. no party!

Location

long live Hugo!

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:28AM

"non-mining sector can start to recover"....It will never recover. It is lost, sold. We've spent the whole lot.

Commenter

JohnBB

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 7:36AM

Soon

Commenter

Pete

Location

Perth

Date and time

March 03, 2014, 8:26AM

Global oil, WTIC (ASX..OOO) seems to be consolidating before heading up aggressively.